(Memphis TN) – The Blues Foundation has announced the winners at the 47th Annual Blues Music Awards that took place on May 7 in Memphis, TN. Congratulations to all this year’s winners!
Photo by Roger Stephenson
2026 Blues Music Awards Winners
B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Album of the Year
D.K. Harrell, “Talkin’ Heavy”
Band of the Year
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Song of the Year
“Can’t Catch a Break”
Written by Tommy Castro & Christoffer Andersen
Best Emerging Artist Album
Sean McDonald, “Have Mercy!”
Acoustic Blues Album
Doug MacLeod,
“Between Somewhere and Goodbye”
Blues Rock Album
Blood Brothers Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia,
“Help Yourself”
Contemporary Blues Album
D.K. Harrell, “Talkin’ Heavy”
Soul Blues Album
Johnny Rawls, “Make Them Dance”
Traditional Blues Album
Buddy Guy, “Ain’t Done With The Blues”
International Blues Album
J.T.Lauritsen & The Buckshot Hunters,
“Still be friends”
Acoustic Blues Artist
Kevin Burt
Blues Rock Artist
Tommy Castro
Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Danielle Nicole
Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Christone ”Kingfish” Ingram
Soul Blues Female Artist
Thornetta Davis
Soul Blues Male Artist
Curtis Salgado
Traditional Blues Female Artist(Koko Taylor Award)
Eden Brent
Traditional Blues Male Artist
John Primer
Instrumentalist – Bass
Scot Sutherland
Instrumentalist – Drums
Derrick D’Mar Martin
Instrumentalist – Guitar
Derek Trucks
Instrumentalist – Harmonica
Billy Branch
Instrumentalist – Horn
Trombone Shorty
Instrumentalist – Piano(Pinetop Perkins Piano Player Award)
Marcia Ball
Instrumentalist – Vocals
Danielle Nicole
